RUSSIA: Russian Orthodox priests bless Easter cakes, called Kulichi, in Moscow ahead of Easter Sunday

Record ID: 736483

  • Title: RUSSIA: Russian Orthodox priests bless Easter cakes, called Kulichi, in Moscow ahead of Easter Sunday
  • Date: 4th May 2013
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MAY 4, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF EXTERIORS OF YELOKHOVO CATHEDRAL PEOPLE CROSSING THEMSELVES AT ENTRANCE TO YELOKHOVO CATHEDRAL SIGN READS 'CHRIST HAS RISEN!' PEOPLE WAITING WITH EASTER CAKES ON TABLE FOR PRIEST'S BLESSING VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WITH EASTER CAKES ON TABLE PRIEST BLESSING EASTER CAKES ON TABLE EASTER EGG IN BASKET ON TABLE VARIOUS OF WOMAN GETTI
  • Embargoed: 19th May 2013 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Russian Federation
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: General,Religion
  • Reuters ID: LVA7J9S8OCXHEY38O9NAVWD4NASQ
  • Story Text: Like Russian Orthodox believers all across Russia, hundreds of people gathered at the Yelokhovo Cathedral in Moscow on Saturday (May 4) on the eve of Easter to prepare for the most holy day in the orthodox church calendar.
    On Saturday night, orthodox churches and cathedrals around the world will usher in Easter with a solemn ceremony, but before that, orthodox Christians have their Easter cakes, called Kulichi, and decorated eggs, blessed by a priest.
    With the arrival of Easter, Lent - a strict fasting period for orthodox Christians - comes to an end, and believers will treat themselves to Easter cakes and eggs that have been forbidden for months.
    In Russia, on Holy Saturday - the day marking the eve of Christ's resurrection - orthodox Christians bring Kulichi that they bake themselves or purchase to their parish churches, where they are then blessed and sprinkled with holy water.
    Churchgoers told Reuters that the tradition helps to put them in the right mindset for their Easter holiday.
    "We are blessing all the gifts that are supposed to be prepared for Easter like Kulichi, painted eggs, kids have been painting, decorating in Faberge style. Grandmother has helped and we have applied our skills. The holiday is holy, good and blessed," said parishioner Natalia.
    Lines of parishioners snaked outside of neighbourhood churches in the Russian capital, waiting to have their cakes blessed.
    In the Yelokhovo Cathedral courtyard, women arranged their elaborately decorated Easter eggs around Kulichi, topped in icing and sprinkles, on tables as they waited for the priest to pass.
    The cathedral's archpriest said Easter traditions bound today's believers to those of the past.
    "This is the most important holiday. And the most important thing in life is our salvation through Easter, through sacrifice of the holy lamb when Moses was freed from the Pharaoh. Easter started there, and it has been realized under Christ's resurrection. And we are celebrating it, and this will be for us for centuries to come," said Archpriest Zotik.
    Many people came to the cathedral with small children and grandparents. Parishioner Dina revelled in the feeling associated with the holy day.
    "You know, you become purer. You become closer to God and everything else. And, you understand, the soul purifies itself. A very pure and very good holiday. I like it very much. I am already old, 79 years but I love it a lot," Dina said.
    On Saturday night, Russian Orthodox Patriarch Kirill will lead a service in Moscow's biggest cathedral, Christ the Saviour.
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